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Circle: Equation of A Circle

1) A circle is defined as a set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point called the center. 2) There are several forms for writing the equation of a circle including using the center and radius, using three points on the circle, or specifying conditions like touching an axis. 3) The general equation of a circle is x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0, where the center is (-g, -f) and the radius is √(g2 + f2 - c).

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Jaishree Ram
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23 views9 pages

Circle: Equation of A Circle

1) A circle is defined as a set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point called the center. 2) There are several forms for writing the equation of a circle including using the center and radius, using three points on the circle, or specifying conditions like touching an axis. 3) The general equation of a circle is x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0, where the center is (-g, -f) and the radius is √(g2 + f2 - c).

Uploaded by

Jaishree Ram
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Circle

Circle

A circle is a closed curve such that every point on the curve is at a constant distance from a fixed point. Circle may also be
defined as a locus of a point which moves so that its distance from a fixed point is constant. The fixed point is called the
centre and the constant distance is called the radius of the circle.

Equation of a circle

1. Centre at the origin (Standard form)


Let O (0, 0) be the centre and r be the radius of the circle.
Let P (x, y) be any point on the circle.
Then, OP = r
Squaring both sides we have,
OP2= r2
or, (x - 0)2 + (y - 0)2 = r2
or, x2 + y2 = r2
This relation is true for any point P (x , y) on the circle. So, it is the equation of the circle.
Centre at the origin (Standard form)
2. Centre at any point (Central form)
Let Q (h, k) be the centre and r be the radius of the circle.
Let P (x, y) be any point on the circle.
Then, QP = r
Squaring both sides we have,
QP2 = r2
or, (x - h)2 + (y k)2 = r2
This is the equation of the circle.
Centre at any point (Central form
3. Circle with a given diameter (Diameter form)
Let A (x1, y1) and B(x2, y2) be the ends of a diameter of a circle.
Let P (x, y) be any point on the circle. Join AP, BP and AB.
Since AB is a diameter of the circle, then∠APB is a right angle.
Now,
y−y1
Slope of AP =
x−x1
y−y2
Slope of BP =
x−x2
Since,
AP is perpendicular to BP, the product of their slopes must be -1.
Hence,
y−y1 y−y2
. = -1
x−x1 x−x2
or, (y - y1) . (y - y2) = - (x - x1) . (x - x2)
or, (x - x1) . (x - x2) +(y - y1) . (y - y2) = 0
This relation is satisfied by any point on the circle. So, it is the equation of the circle.
Circle with a given diameter (Diameter form)
4. General equation of the circle
Let Q (h, k) be the centre and r be the radius of the circle.
Let P (x, y) be any point on the circle.
Then,
QP = r
Squaring on both sides,
QP2 = r2
or, (x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2
or, x2 - 2hx + h2 + y2 - 2ky + k2 = r2
or, x2 + y2 - 2hx - 2ky + h2 + k2 - r2 = 0
This is the equation of a circle having centre at the point (h, k) and radius r.
Putting -2h = 2g, -2k = 2f and h2 + k2 - r2 = c we have,
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
This is general equation of the circle.
General equation of the circle
Note: The general equation of a circle is: x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0.
Comparing this equation with the general equation of second degree
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 we have,
- coefficient of x2 and y2 are equal
- coefficient of xy is zero
Hence,
The general equation of second degreeax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 represents a circle if
- coefficients of x2 and y2 are equal i.e. a = b
- coefficient of xy is zero i.e. h = 0

Centre and radius of a circle

The general equation of a circle is:

x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0

or, x2 + 2gx + y2+ 2fy = -c

or, x2 + 2gx + g2 + y2 + 2fy + f2 = g2 + f2 - c


−−−−−−−−− 2
or, (x + g)2 + (y + f)2 = (√g 2 + f 2
−c )
Comparing this equation with (x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2, we have
−−−−−−−−−
h = -g, k = -f and r =√g 2 + f 2
−c
Hence,
Centre of the circle (h, k) = (-g, -f)
−−−−−−−−−
Radius of the circle (r) = √g 2 + f 2 −c

Equation of a circle passing through three points

Equation of a circle passing through three point


Let, A (x1, y1), B (x2, y2) and C (x3, y3) be three points of a circle.

Let, P (h, k) be the centre of the circle.

Then,

AP = BP = CP

or, AP2 = BP2 = CP2


By using distance formula,

We have,

AP2= (x1 - h)2 + (y1 - k)2

BP2= (x2 - h)2 + (y2 - k)2

CP2= (x3 - h)2 + (y3 - k)2

Taking AP2 = BP2 we have,

(x1 - h)2 + (y1- k)2 = (x2 - h)2 + (y2 - k)2 .....................................................(i)

Taking BP2 = CP2 we have,

(x2 - h)2 + (y2- k)2 = (x3 - h)2 + (y3 - k)2 .....................................................(ii)

By solving (i) and (ii) we will get the values of h and k. Hence, we get centre P (h, k) of the circle. Then length of AP or BP
or CP gives the radius r of the circle.

Now, Putting the values of h, k and r in (x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2 we get the required equation of the circle.
Equation of a circle in particular cases

1. When a circle touches the X - axis

Let the centre of a circle be C(h, k) and radius r. If this circle touches X- axis and the circle is in the first or second quadrant,
then r = k.
If the circle is in the third or fourth quadrant, then r = -k.
Now,
The equation of a circle touching the X- axis is
(x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2
2
or, (x - h)2 + (y - k)2= k

When a circle touches the X - axis


2. When a circle touches the Y- axis

Let C (h, k) and r be the centre and radius of a circle.


If this circle touches the Y- axis and it is in the first or fourth quadrant, then r = h.
If the circle is in the second or third quadrant, then r = -h.
Now,
The equation of a circle touching the Y- axis is
(x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2
2
or,(x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = h
When a circle touches the Y- axis
3. When a circle touches both the positive axes

Let C(h, k) and r be the centre and radius of a circle, if this circle touches both the positive axes, then h = k = r.
Now,
The equation of the circle is:
(x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2
or,(x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = h2
or,(x - k)2 + (y - h)2 = k2
2
or,(x - r)2 + (y - k)2 = k
When a circle touches both the positive axes

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